Purpose of memorial clear; It would honor those UGA members who fell in defense of our liberty

Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2002

I have read your editorial (March 20) about the proposed memorial at the University of Georgia with some dismay. To have the meaning of that memorial so mangled by your distorted interpretation was disheartening after so many people have spent so much time working on the proposal.

The editorial claims that who is being honored and why is ''vague and muddied by political correctness,'' yet, in reality, the definition is quite clear; we seek to honor those who have given their lives in the defense of democracy and their country. This is not a matter of political correctness but, rather, an effort to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free.

We are still in the process of gathering the names, but most likely around 99 percent of those who will be honored will have died in military uniform in wars since the university acquired its charter in 1785. Recall, though, that diplomats have died, too, in defense of freedom; several U.S. ambassadors have been killed by terrorists in recent years. So have intelligence officers; as you may recall, the first casualty in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan was a CIA officer. Is the loss of their lives less significant in the war against terrorism than the loss of military personnel?

In America's war against terrorism, our country must rely for help on its allies. What if a UGA student from, say, France, returns home, joins the army, and fights along side U.S. troops in Afghanistan or somewhere else, dying in a firefight. Should he or she be honored? We think so. What if a student had joined the public service as an officer in the New York City Police or Fire Departments and died in the terrorist attack against the World Trade Center? Should he or she be honored? We think so.

Let us make it clear what this memorial stands for. Contrary to the impression the editorial leaves, almost all of the honorees will be men and women who have died in military uniform. An additional few may have served in other parts of the government or in democracies overseas, also falling while protecting our liberties. All deserve our respect, remembrance, and gratitude.